Let me paint you a picture.
There was once a brilliant girl called Tari. Form 2, top of her class, straight A’s, and every teacher in the school saying, “This one will wear a white coat, stethoscope hanging around her neck, and save lives one day.”
But then, life happened. At 15, she fell pregnant. Her parents said, “Since you’re now someone’s wife, pack your bags and go stay with him.” The in-laws accepted her, yes, but they couldn’t afford to send her back to school. Just like that, Tari’s dream of becoming a doctor was thrown out of the window, together with her Form 2 report card.
Fast forward 10 years later… you’re sitting in your fancy office with your “Now Hiring” poster stuck at the gate. Tari walks in. She’s sharp, confident, and speaks with intelligence that makes you think she has a degree in human relations. But on her CV, under “Education,” it says: Stopped at Form 2.
What do you do? Most employers don’t even give her a chance. They see “Form 2” and immediately toss the CV in the bin. Yet this is the same Tari who used to outshine the whole class in Mathematics, who had teachers whispering, “Doctor material.”
Now let me ask you: is that fair?
Because here’s the truth, my brother, my sister not every sharp mind was privileged to finish school. Some dropped out because of pregnancy. Some because of poverty. Some because life threw them curveballs bigger than any exam. But talent? Intelligence? Creativity? Those don’t disappear just because a certificate is missing.
Think about this: how many people with degrees can’t even apply what they studied? And yet, how many “school dropouts” are running successful businesses, leading organizations, and solving real-life problems better than the so-called “qualified” ones?
When you recruit, don’t let a piece of paper blind you. That Form 2 girl might be the best salesperson in your company. That guy who never finished A-level might be the one who saves your business with his street-smart strategies.
Yes, education is important. But so is giving people a chance. Because sometimes, the “doctor who never became” could be the star employee you’ve been praying for.
So next time you’re hiring, don’t just look for degrees. Look for attitude. Look for skill. Look for brilliance that might be hidden behind a broken dream. Because some of the best minds are not on university graduation lists they’re out here waiting for someone to believe in them again.
By The Chartered Vendor
#AfricanBusiness #RecruitSmart #TalentOverPaper #HiddenGenius #BusinessWisdom #HiringRight #Entrepreneurship #RecruitmentTips #DegreesArentEverything #GivePeopleAChance
